Challenges of Fire in the Urban InterfaceThe ability to use fire as a tool to protect and enhance crucial habitats near urbanized areas is becoming increasingly complex. Fire managers will share their perspective on the challenges, successes and lessons learned from prescribed fire activities on Refuges across the country. What are the errors that lead to failure and the keys to success in managing fire in the Wildland/ Urban Interface?
Lead by: Chris Wilcox, Glen Stratton, Lee NelsonMadison Ballroom B, Tuesday 1:30–3:00pmRead the report:Challenges of Fire in the Urban Interface (pdf)

Citizen ScienceLearn how to set up a citizen science project on your Refuge including strategies for managers to market and create awareness of these projects. Overview of successful citizen science projects at local and national scales including BudBurst at the Refuges, which is a national citizen science project being customized for implementation at individual Refuges. Participants will leave with the tools needed to implement a citizen science project at their Refuge.
Lead by: Sandra Henderson, Barbara VolkleMadison Ballroom C, Tuesday 1:30–3:00pmRead the report:Citizen Science Programs – Connecting
People with Nature at the National Wildlife Refuges (pdf)

Refuges Geospatial: Supporting the MissionThe panel will provide an overview of the major Refuge System geospatial initiatives – “geospatial” referring to data that is geographic and spatial in nature. This will be followed by a discussion with workshop attendees.
Lead by: Ron Salz, Todd Sutherland, David DrescherMadison Ballroom D, Tuesday 1:30–3:00pmRead the report:Birding Initiative Workshop (pdf)Read the report:Refuges Geospatial – Supporting the Mission (pdf)

Tuesday LATE AFTERNOON Workshops | 3:30 – 5:00 pm

Friends: Advancing the Vision
Friends give an extraordinary amount of passion, energy, and resources to the National Wildlife Refuge System. How can the Refuge System tap into that passion and energy to help Advance the Vision? This interactive session will give participants the opportunity to help identify the role of Friends in advancing the Refuge System’s Vision and what’s next for Friends organizations.
Lead by: Greg Siekaniec, Evan Hirsche, Joanna Webb, Joan PattersonMadison Ballroom A, Tuesday 3:30–5:00pmRead the report:Friends: Advancing the Vision (pdf)

Land Protection in the 21st Century
This workshop will help attendees define the principles of successful collaborative land protection and conservation strategies for the National Wildlife Refuge System and beyond, including methods of implementation for defensibly, objectively, and strategically achieving conservation and management objectives for the Refuge System and the USFWS.
Lead by: Heather Abbey, Grant Harris, Kris MetzgerMadison Ballroom B, Tuesday 3:30–5:00pmRead the report:Land Protection for the 21st Century (pdf)

Hiring the Next Generation
Participate in a discussion about the benefits of recruiting and building our next generation of conservation leaders. Participants will learn about upcoming policy changes giving you more efficient and effective ways to hire and retain youth, working effectively with partners, how to effectively market your youth programs to diverse audiences, and practical “on the ground” tips for hiring youth. Most importantly, there will be time for participants to offer their ideas on improving our youth hiring program policies, regulations, and support and training programs.
Lead by: Jay Slack, Jessie Cheek, Flip Hagood, Lamar Gore, Kevin KilcullenMadison Ballroom C, Tuesday 3:30–5:00pmRead the report:Hiring the Next Generation (pdf)

Green Tools for Refuges
Interested as to how you can be more “green” every day at your Refuge or in your community? Learn how to implement sustainable processes in your Refuge and some “take home” tips and tools for everyday “green” practices.
Lead by: Coby Bartram, Greg Owens, Kevin CobbleMadison Ballroom D, Tuesday 3:30–5:00pmRead the report:Solar and Wind Energy for Refuges (pdf)Read the report:Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems (pdf)Read the report:Green Energy (pdf)

Wednesday MORNING Workshops | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Role of Interpretation Programs
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Learn about the role interpretation plays in the visitor experience and how it can be successful in meeting resource management objectives.
Lead by: Jim Covel, Tim Merriman, Angelina YostMadison Ballroom ARead the Report: Conserving the Future through Great Interpretation (pdf)

Aiming High – The Elements of Exemplary Volunteer Engagement
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Come and measure your program’s volunteer involvement against the key characteristics of organizations that effectively engage today’s volunteers as individuals, groups or members of Friends’ associations. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to interact with one of the nation’s best-known authors and speakers on volunteerism and receive a special link to download many of her valuable resources.
Lead by: Betty StallingsMadison Ballroom CRead the Report:Aiming High – The Elements of Exemplary Volunteer Engagement (pdf)

Wednesday EARLY AFTERNOON Workshops | 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Building Successful Partnerships
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Land protection practitioners will discuss early engagement with communities and other essential building blocks of a successful project, using lessons learned at the Rocky Mountain Front, Rappahananock River Valley, and Everglades Headwaters initiative. Participants will join in discussions on how to make proven successful practices part of our standard operating procedures.
Lead by: Gary Sullivan, Joe McCauley, David HoughtonMadison Ballroom ARead the Report: Chesapeake Conservation Challenge (pdf)Read the Report:Collaborative Landscape Conservation (pdf)

The Benefits of Applying Models in Environmental Education
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Setting a framework is an important step to effectively shape environmental education. This session examines two innovative environmental education programs and the models upon which they are based. The presenters share lessons learned from implementing these prototypes at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (MN) and Iroquois NWR (NY) and facilitate a workshop exploring ways in which similar approaches can be implemented elsewhere.
Lead by: Michael Noonan, Molly StoddardMadison Ballroom BRead the Report:A Carbon Negative Approach to a Sustainable Future (pdf)Read the Report: The Benefits of Applying Models in Environmental Education: Useful Tips (pdf)

The Refuge System and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives – Partners Addressing 21st Century Conservation Challenges
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Specific examples from across the LCC network will highlight existing partnerships and explore how LCCs can add value on Refuges, as well as the role of refuges in conservation delivery, adaptive management, and Strategic Habitat Conservation. The workshop will seek transparency by providing a venue for an open and fair audience discussion of Refuge/LCC partnerships now and in the future. How are Refuges and LCCs integrating now and what additional steps can be implemented to improve future collaboration?
Lead by: Doug Austen, Bridgette Flanders-WannerMadison Ballroom C
Read the Report: The Refuge System and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives – Partners Addressing 21st Century Conservation Challenges (pdf)

Law Enforcement – The Front Line in Protecting Wildlife
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Officers are often the “face” that visitors see and associate with their Refuge experience. Learn about the ways that officers are positively impacting the public, protecting their own safety and dealing with unexpected issues.
Mitch Ellis, Jim Hall, Rebecca MerrittMadison Ballroom D

Wednesday MID AFTERNOON Workshops | 2:45 – 4:15 pm

Refuges, Neighbors and Sea-level Rise
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm
As sea levels rise, Refuges are already finding themselves on the hot seat as communities ask Refuges to change their management to protect homes, private property and public infrastructure. How are Refuges responding and what tools do managers and partners have to handle these challenges?
Lead by: Mike Bryant, Lou Hinds, Noah MatsonMadison Ballroom ARead the Report:Refuge Planning and
Implementation: The Role of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (pdf)

Strategic Planning Between USFWS and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Both the USFWS and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies have authorities and responsibilities for management of fish and wildlife on Refuges. This workshop will focus on the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, individual Refuge purposes, appropriate refuge uses, wildlife-dependent recreational uses, and coordination and cooperative work with the States for management of fish, wildlife, and wildlife-dependent recreational uses on national wildlife refuges.
Lead by: John Kennedy, Steve Weber, Robin West, Geoff Haskett, Greg SiekaniecMadison Ballroom B

Increasing Refuge Support via Friends Groups
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Across the Refuge System, staff and Friends members are using innovative ways to reach out to “refuge neighbors.” The Refuge’s community is made up of individuals and larger entities, just to name a few: local to national/international organizations, schools and governmental bodies at various levels, all of whom can support and benefit from the Refuge. Come and learn how Friends groups are engaging these community members and creating relationships beneficial to all.
Lead by: Ann Smith, Joe SaenzMadison Ballroom CRead the Report: Friends of Black Bayou: Increasing Support Via Friends Groups (pdf)

Thursday MORNING Workshops | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Refuge Manager of the Future
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
A diverse panel of current and former refuge managers/assistants will present their views and philosophy on refuge management to spark thought, discussion, and introspection as conference attendees reflect on the role of the refuge manager of the future. Presentations will be followed by ample time for questions and discussion.
Lead by: Larry Williams, Don Hultman, Keenan Adams, Vicki Muller, Shaun SanchezMadison Ballroom ARead the Report:Refuge Manager of the Future (pdf)

Friends Groundswell – Reaching Capacity
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
How can Refuges and Friends work together to create an outpouring of interest in joining Friends groups? Attendees will learn from an experienced panel and then discuss ideas for increasing interest in Friends organizations for Refuges.
Lead by: Mark Musaus, Birgie Vertesch, Rick LynchMadison Ballroom BRead the Report: Reaching Capacity (pdf)

Marketing your Refuge in the Digital Age 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
How to maximize your Refuge’s exposure to the online community and enhance visitors’ experience by integrating web and new media tools into your communication repertoire.
Lead By: Cortney White, Jennifer StricklandMadison Ballroom CRead the Report: Marketing Your Refuge in the Digital Age (pdf)

Thursday EARLY AFTERNOON Workshops | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Refuge Water Resources – Management for People and Wildlife
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Whether it’s too much water, too little water, or water of unknown quantity and quality, Refuges across the nation are confronting challenges with the protection and management of their water resources. Learn from experts about water resource issues (current and future); water rights (the good, bad, and ugly); monitoring (let’s just automate everything); water quality (maintain waterfowl, not foul water); and climate change impacts.
Lead by: Tim Mayer, Josh EashMadison Ballroom ARead the Report: Refuge Water Resources: Management for People and Wildlife (pdf)

Why You Should be a Friend of the Refuge System Transportation Program
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Transportation provides opportunities to improve access to our lands, but is also a big driver of growth and development across the landscape. This interactive session will explore the bigger picture of transportation across the U.S., how that related to transportation within the boundaries of National Wildlife Refuges and demonstrate how you can be more engaged in transportation funding and projects.
Lead by: Steve Suder, Nathan CaldwellMadison Ballroom BRead the Report: Why You Should be a Friend of the Refuge System Transportation Program (pdf)

Hunting, Fishing and the Next Generation
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Involvement of youth in hunting and fishing has declined in recent years however; hunting and fishing have played an integral role in partnering opportunities and the conservation of our National Refuges and will continue to do so in the future. Learn how to engage the next generation of youth in these vital times and conservation activities.
Lead by: Steve Williams, Keith Weaver, Bill Poole, Curtis TaylorMadison Ballroom CRead the Report: Hunting, Fishing and the Next Generation (pdf)

Using Free Technology to go Outdoors!
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
An introduction and overview of how different Refuges are using technology to get visitors connected to the outdoors. Come learn about examples of EarthCaching, legal geocaching on a Refuge, and now QR codes to connect people with nature. Discuss how the technology of call phone tours has become the way of the past, and smart phone tours are the future!
Cindy Samples, Toni WestlandMadison Ballroom DRead the Report:Using Technology to Go Outdoors! (pdf)